Antenna



Dec. 26, 1950 E. cARLsoN ANTENNA Filed Oct. 17, 1946 wlllldlalllll'll....4

INVENTOR. Gar-zgan,

Patented Dec. 26, 1950 UNITED' STATES PATENT oFFlcE ANTENNA Emil Carlson, Detroit, Mich., assigner, by mesne assignments, to H. Y. Bassett, O. D. Marcks, and V. D. Hanna, all of Detroit, Mich.

Application October 17, 1946, Serial No. 703,852

The present invention relates to radio antenna constructions of the extensible and retractable type which is particularly suited for, although not exclusively restricted in its utility to, Vehicular installations, as in motor cars, aircrafigand the like. Y

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved pressure-operable aerial which may be extended and retracted through selective connection thereof to pressure generating means such as the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine.

Another object is to provide such an antenn incorporating improved actuating means adapted to be concealed from view within the body of a. vehicle upon which the antenna is installed, the mounting being such that the antenna is retracted into the vehicle when in the inoperative position and the parts being so arranged that the complete installation affords an antenna having a high quality or Q factor, low capacity, and the capacity of which remains substantially unchanged during extension and retraction of the antenna.

Another object is to provide such a retractable antenna installation the eiiiciency of which remains virtually unaifected by any moisture which may nd its way into the interior of the mechanism by way of the opening in the vehicle body through which the antenna is projectable.

An object related to that last stated is to provide an improved actuable vantenna assembly having an actuating motor of the reciprocating type and a housing into which the antenna is retractable and from which it may be projected, the motor and antenna housing being mounted relatively close to one another in parallel relation and isolated in such manner that'neither is harmfullyaifected by the presence of the other, either electrically or mechanically, and moisture cannot accumulate in a manner which would interfere with the electrical emciency of the antenna.

' Other objects and advantages will be apparent upon consideration of the present disclosure in its entirety.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a substantially central vertical longitudinal sectional view, centrally broken away, of a power-operable antenna constructed in accordance with the present invention, showing the same as installed in the body of a motor vehicle, which is fragmentarily illustrated, and also schematically showing connections to cooperating elements;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan View thereof;

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail upon a larger scale, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

2 claims. (c1. 25o-s3) Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional detail of the tuating wire to the antenna mast; and n Fig. 5 is a fragmentary composite view o'f the` telescoping antenna mast assembly, partly in' side elevation and partly in substantially radial longitudinal section.

Referring now to the drawings, reference character IIJ designates a flxedly supported tubular antenna mast section adapted to be mounted in a position in which it projects substantially ver' tically through and upwardly froma portion of a body of the vehicle, as for example, the fender fragmentarily shown at I2 in Fig. 1. One or more additional telescopic extension antenna sections as I4 and I5 are slidable in the stationary section I0, and also slidable with respect to one another, eiective continuous felectrical connection between the sections I0, I4 and I5 being maintained as by interposed spring lingersas I6 of phosphor bronze or the like.

At its lower extremity, the stationary section I0 is attached to but insulated from the top cap portion I8 of a housing assembly which isY also iixedly supported from the vehicle body structure. The cap I8 is of inverted cupped form. having ilat sides and ends rounded as viewed in plan, and is provided with an upturned collarlike iiange I9 of circular section through which the mast assembly extends. It will be seen that the cap may conveniently be formed of drawn sheet metal. The upturned' collar I 9 substantially exceeds the mast assembly in diameter, and between the collar and the mast an insulat ing bushing 20 and a tubular supporting neckpiece 22 are interposed, the neckpiece 22 beingA formed of a metal tube fitted into and welded or otherwise tightly secured to the collar I9. The lower extremity of the neck tube 22 is counterbored to provide an internal annular shoulder 23 against which the top of the bushing 20 fits, while the lower extremity of the mast section ID is expanded to provide a shoulder 24 underlying the bushing 20. Neckpiece 22 is adapted to project up through an opening (undesignated) in the body of fender portion I2 and is externally threaded at its top to receive a nut 25 which may be of a domed or other ornamental configuration, as shown. Bel

, tween the nut 25 and the outer surface of the -body a ller piece 26 and resilient gasket Washer 28 are interposed, and a spacing collar 3l! is arranged beneath the fender portion I2, between such fender portion and the top of the cap I8, collar 30 being formed as a cylindrical tube surrounding the collar portion I9 and serving as a compression member when the nut 25 is tight'- ened. An insulating bushing 2I corresponding to the bushing 20 is interposed between the nut and the upper end of neckpiece 22 and the mast section I 0. The portion of the mast within the bushing 20 is serrated, as indicated at II, to prevent'longitudinal displacement of the mast, which is also held by the connector clamp 32 tightly held upon its lower extremity as by the clamping screw 34. The lead-in connecting wire 35 which is connected to the connector clamp 32 extends outwardly through the side of The cap I8 serves asa closure and support forv the upper extremity of an elongated dual housing assembly forming two longitudinal parallell chambers.' one of which, designated 40, is aligned with and ser-ves to accommodate the telescoping mast sections, while the other chamber 42 comprises the cylinder of the motor which serves to drive such telescoping sections during extension andretraction thereof. Cylindrical chamber 42 is-formed by a seamless metal tube 44, while; chamber 4G is formed by a channeled sheet;

member 45 of substantially U section, having the bight portion of the U of semicircular cross sec-A tion and corresponding in radius to the radius of the tube 44, with the flat side portions of the U-sectioned member 45 so disposed that the freefedges 41 thereof bear against the tube 44 throughout substantially its entire length. Since the flat sides of the housing member 45 are sub stantially tangential with respect to the tube 44. the dual housing assumes the cross-sectional form indicated in Fig. 2, having rounded wall portions formed by the bight of the U shaped channel 45 and by the exposed side of,

the tube 44 and flattened side walls formed by the side anges oi the channel member 45. A bottom cap 4S conforming in its general shape to the top cap 58 kmarginally overlaps lthe lower ends of v,channel 45 and tube 44 to which it is secured as by screws 4s. l i

The lower extremity oi sliding antenna sec- V tion I4 carries and is. oentered'by a. slidingspacer block 50 secured thereupon by means of a stud 53, fast, in and projecting downwardly from the lower end of antenna section I4, and by a nut 52 on the stud. Slide member 5S moves freely within the compartment 4I) and is of generally crescent shape, conforming to the internal cross section of such compartment.

A looped belt 65 is secured at its extremities:

tothe slide member 50, as by means of the sheet metal clip SG which is tightly wrapped around the extremities of the belt 65 and crimped against the same to retain them. The belt may be of wire or plastic, and if desired, solder or oement'or the like may also be used, as indi-- cated at 68, to additionally secure the belt with respect to the clip S5. the clip is so contoured.

that its upper and lower .extremities overhang and underhang the top and bottom respectively of the slide 58, preventing vertical displacement of the slide with respect to the belt. The belt is trained over upper and lower pulleys 62, 63

housed in the cap pertions I8, 48 respectively and so positioned and dimensioned that the other run of the looped belt extends axially throughthe cylinder 42. The pulleys are indicatedas The bushing l35v is 4 journaled in bearing brackets 58, 60 respectively, carried by upper and lower heads 54, 56 which close the ends of cylinder 42. The head members 54, 56 are of inwardly facing cupped form and may be positioned by the same screws as 29, 49 which are employed to retain the caps I8, 48. Packing means as l0 is also preferably provided, carried by the heads at the points of "entry of the belt 65 and substantially sealing .the belt with respect to the cylinder heads.

A piston assembly is secured to the belt within the cylinder 42 and is adapted to be urged longitudinally within such cylinder to actuate the mast section I4. The piston assembly comprises a pair of spaced washerlike plates '14, 'I5 serving as retainers for conventionally arranged, oppositely facing cupped packing washers 75. The assembly of washers 14-15-76 is retained and positioned by an axial tube 'i8 which is substantially longer; than the piston plate assembly and extends down-.- wardly therefrom to support a cupped spacer.l member slidably fitted within the cylinder 1.42 and positioned far enough below the piston plate assembly to eliminate any tendency of thelatten to cock within the cylinder. The ends of axial; tube 'I8 are expanded above the top washer 'I4y and below the spacer 8U, so that tube 'i8 serves as a hollow rivet to maintain the piston' parts in assembled relation, the spacing between thel bottom washer 'I5 and spacer 80 being maintained by a spacer tube 82 arranged therebetween and surrounding the axial tube '18. A clamping tube 'I'l is fitted tightly in and may be welded to the tube T8 and is. also preferably secured to the belt; as by soldering, as indicated at 7S.

Pressure communication to the interior ofthe cylinder space 42 above and below theA piston assembly is provided by coupling nipples 84 and 85 fitted in and sealed with respect to suitable aligned openings (undesignated) in the overlapping casing land end cap portions and projecting; inwardly through the flange-d walls of the cylinder. head members 54 and 55, in which they may bethreadedly fitted. Nipples 84 and 85 are adapted to be connected, as by means of suitable con; duits 85 and 88, to a manually operable valve. 90, the details of which form'nopart of my present invention and accordingly will require. no explanation, although the valve ,preferably conforms to the disclosure of Cary W. Martin Patent;

No. 2,239,614, and is actuable, as by means-ofY a knob 92, to selectively connect either of the lines 85, 88 to a reduced pressure area such as the intake manifold of a gasoline engine, to which connection may be effected by a conduit 94.

Openings as may be provided in the bottom-v cap 48 so that any water which iinds its way intofv the interior of the casing assembly from outside the vehicle portion I2 may readily escape.

It-will be apparent that by selectively actuating the valve 92, pressure may be applied to either, side of the piston assembly to so move the samel as to raise or lower the antenna portion I41at will, and that movement of this portion carries with it the inner section I5.

It will also be seen that various modifications;- may be introduced without departing from, the.- spirit and scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim: Y

l. A power-operable extensible and retractable, aerial construction comprising a housing structure incorporating a pair of substantially parallel elongated chambers arranged sideby-side,one of said chambers being open at the top andbottom-thereof, an antenna rod slidable in said;

last chamber through and from said top opening, and a pressure-operable motor element housed in the other of said chambers laterally offset and substantially isolated from the rst-mentioned chamber and a belt operatively connecting the motor element to said rod to actuate the same.

2. In an extensible and retractable aerial construction, a housing structure dening a pair of elongated tubular chambers substantially isolated fom one another, antenna means including an antenna member slidable in a rst one of said tubular chambers to extend more or less into and from the same, motor means Within the other of said tubular chambers operatively connected to said member and actuatable to so slide such member, said housing structure comprising a tube defining the second tubular chamber, a piston sldable in said tube, the rst tubular chamber lying beside and close to said tube, a guide member for said slidable antenna member slidably housed Within said first tubular chamber, and a substantially endless belt connecting said piston to said guide member and extending around end portions of said tube and rst tubular chamber.

EMIL CARLSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are o record in the iile of this patent:

UNFEED STATES PATENTS 

